(a) obtaining a blood sample from a human subject, wherein the blood sample is stabilized in a guanidinium denaturant;

(b) extracting RNA from the blood sample;

(c) measuring RNA expression levels for a plurality of RNA transcripts, wherein the plurality of RNA transcripts comprises RNA transcripts selected from DGKA, DLG1, ICOSLG, IKZF4/Eos, SMYD3, TCF3, TRIM28, and any combination of any of the foregoing, wherein the expression levels of each of the plurality of RNA transcripts are determined as a percentage of mean expression for each RNA transcript and normalized to calculate a cumulative score for the plurality of RNA transcripts;

(d) comparing the cumulative score to those of a reference set of values derived from patients without coronary artery disease;

(e) identifying the human subject having coronary artery disease based on the comparison performed in step (d) when the cumulative score of the human subject meets or exceeds a threshold fold change compared to that for patients without coronary artery disease, the threshold fold change set at a value of at least 1.5; and

(f) treating the human subject who tests positive for coronary artery disease with administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a medicament comprised of one or more of a statin, an aspirin, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, a diuretic, a glucose control medication, a beta blocker, a salt of any of these, or any combination thereof.